Block remembered for history, McMahan's fire

The Murphy Building was constructed in the 1850s and was one of Salem’s early brick buildings. Among the businesses seen before its 1940 demolition were the New Shanghai Cafe, advertising chop suey, J.C. Perry Drugs, Capital Hotel and Schreder-Berg grocery.(Photo: Ben Maxwell Collection / Salem Public Library Historic Photograph Collection)

Today the property is barren, covered in gravel. For several decades, it was known for being home to one of Salem's first brick buildings, and later for being the site of one of the city's most recent big fires.

The southwest corner of State and Commercial streets, in recent years more known for the McMahan's furniture store, was home to the Murphy Building.

The building likely was constructed in 1854, and it was the second- or third-oldest brick building in Salem at the time of its demolition in 1940, the Oregon Statesman reported March 24, 1940. It initially was a two-story building, with a third story added after the flood of 1861.

It was named for John Joseph Murphy, who was born in Ireland in 1832 and died at the east entrance of the old Marion County Courthouse on June 19, 1907. He served as justice of the peace in the Champoeg District in the 1860s and Marion County sheriff. He also was a state legislator and a Salem mayor, according to a Bits for Breakfast column from June 29, 1940, in the Oregon Statesman.

The building also was known as the Griswold Block, named for W.C. Griswold and Co.

A Sept. 14, 1893, Oregon Statesman story recalling the 1861 flooding in Salem mentioned there were three sections of the city that were islands surrounded by water, one of which was the "bank building and Griswold's block on Commercial street."

The building was home to professional offices, including architects and surgeons, and for more than 25 years, home to the Oregon Statesman. Perry's Drug Store was on the first floor from April 1, 1904, until the building's demise.

The Murphy Building in the 100 block of Commercial Street SE is seen in the process of being demolished in 1940. The sidewalk in front of the building has been blocked and covered to protect pedestrians.(Photo: Ben Maxwell Collection / Salem Public Library Historic Photograph Collection)

The Murphy Building was remodeled in 1909 for another longtime tenant on the second and third floors: the Capitol Hotel.

In February 1940, the building was deemed unsafe by the city building inspector. By the end of the month, the first steps toward demolition took place with the removal of windows in the upper stories. The Capitol Hotel closed by March 16.

"It was constructed to stand 100 years, and missed it by 14 or 15," the Oregon Statesman reported in March 1940. "Had the mortar in the brick work been of the same formula as used in similar work now, the building might have enjoyed another 50 years of usefulness. But no cement was used in brick mortar in those days, and hence the walls are now deemed unsafe."

During the demolition, 1855-56 records were found from a general store that was housed in the building. Eggs were 20 cents per dozen, butter 35 cents per pound and glasses were 75 cents.

A plug of tobacco cost 20 cents and soap cost 20 cents per bar.

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A four-alarm fire claims McMahan's at State and Commerical streets in Downtown Salem.(Photo: Statesman Journal file)

Wreckers also found an old bricked well that was 4 feet wide and 40 feet deep that may have been a town pump during Salem's early days. It reportedly had water to within 15 feet from the top when found.

In mid-May 1940, the site's early history was removed and it was ready for the construction of the new $52,960 Murphy Building. A new era began Sept. 14, 1940, with the opening of Schreder's 4-Star Market. Other occupants included Hogg Bros. Appliance store, Farmer's Hardware Co., and Portland Gas & Coke Co.

"The building is of two stories with mezzanine floor and full basement," the Capital Journal wrote Oct. 10, 1940. "All exterior walls are of reinforced concrete, main stairs to the second floor of reinforced concrete and the interior walls of eight inch thick masonry. All exterior sash are steel and an original design includes interior railings of wrought iron and the steel sash on the second floor are likewise of original design, without draft.

"Another innovation is a four wire system with which the building is wired for light and power."

Hogg Bros. furniture later was sold to McMahan's in the 1980s. The fate of the second Murphy Building was sealed on Aug. 10, 2006, when a four-alarm fire gutted the building.

Andy Zimmerman writes a column about local history twice per month. You can contact him with comments or suggestions for future stories at SJTimeCapsule@gmail.com.